Urgent Wireless laptop help needed!!! UK wireless router to laptop - PC Help Forum - Free Computer Help, Windows, Hardware, Software and more!

darren08r · #1 03-10-2008

Hi there, Im 17 and i recently purchased a laptop for my bedroom, which is upstairs in my house. All of the internet stuff, including virgin media modem and wireless router is downstairs, less than 10 metres away going through walls.

Anyway, when i got my laptop I set up the connection to the internet from the same room as the router. everything was working fine, so i took the laptop upstairs to my bedroom where the connection signal dropped to fair (2 bars). I use Vista now by the way. anyway, repeatedly, I now lose the internet connection, or it is very slow, dropping between 1 and 2 bars, whereas when im downstairs in the same room as the router the signal is excellent.

The thing that is bothering me is that my dad also has a laptop, and he gets an excellent signal anywhere in the house, no matter where the router is. He has a supposedly inferior system to me, and yet gets the best connection where my connection just drops dead basically.

Please, to anyone out there with any idea, reply! I need to know if it is a problem with my laptop, and how it might be possible to fix it to get full connection strength in my room. I would do almost anything to make it work. To me at the moment, having my own laptop is pointless unless the internet works properly. Thanks for any help that I receive.

my system specs are AMD Turion x2 1.90Ghz, 2Gb RAM, 128Mb Gefore 8400M graphics card, 160Gb hard drive, Broadcom wireless network card, connecting to a buffalo wireless router airstation.

Jelly Bean · #2 03-10-2008

Hello and welcome to PC Help Forum.

Lets see if we can get you up and running so you can shame dads laptop.

Ok its Virginmedia and what wireless router are you using?

Did you use wireless network setup wizard?

Have you updated your wireless router cards driver on the laptop?

What speed is your internet?4 meg?or more?

Click Start, click Control Panel, click Network and Internet Connections, and then click Network Connections.

Click the wireless network connection icon, and then, under Network Tasks, click View available wireless networks.

Choose the wireless network from the list that appears, and then click Connect.

This network name maybe the name dad used to install network ie wirless router.

Or
Open Network and Sharing Center by clicking the Start button

, clicking Control Panel, clicking Network and Internet, and then clicking Network and Sharing Center.
If network discovery is off, click the arrow button

to expand the section, click Turn on network discovery, and then click Apply.

If you are prompted for an administrator password or confirmation, type the password or provide confirmation.

darren08r · #3 03-10-2008

im using a buffalo airstation WHR G54S runs in 802.11g and b data transfer 125Mbps, 2.4 Ghz frequency band

i went through the setup wizard, entering the wep key where i was prompted and i get a good signal in the same room as the router so i think i can assume it works.

how do i update the router drivers on laptop? not sure bout that one

and finally Im not sure about the speed, neither is my dad lol, but it is definitely a broadband connection.

UPDATE::: Okay my network discovery is already on, and I can connect to the internet, its the signal thats the problem when i go upstairs. how do i update the router drivers on the laptop?

Jelly Bean · #4 03-10-2008

Hi ok do you know were device manager is? Right click on My Computer and scroll to properties,open properties then click on hardware tab.
Then click on device manager.

Scroll to network adaptors open the list by clicking on the + right click on adaptor and click update driver.

Or you can go to Microsoft update and choose custom install and it should give you a few drivers to download and install.

Ok if there is any mobile phones/cordless phones near laptop move them away.

Jelly Bean · #5 03-10-2008

Ok here are a few links to read and for you to checkup on,they should help you.Quicker than copy n paste.

Windows Vista Help: Troubleshoot problems finding wireless networks
Windows Vista Help: Troubleshoot low wireless signal quality problems

Windows Vista Help: Networking home computers running different versions of Windows

darren08r · #6 03-11-2008

okay i updated the drivers on the adaptor and turned off my mobile. i did what it said on the vista help links, including changing the channel on the adaptor properties page. none of this, however, worked, although i do get a good, very good signal for a couple of seconds after i connect, but as soon as it connects to the internet it goes back to poor.

If all else fails, I may just have to take the laptop back to PC World, see what they can do, and if nothing is possible ask for a refund. Ive seen a top of the range desktop in there anyway lol!! Any other tips you have got would be appreciated, although im starting to lose hope.

Zachary · #7 03-11-2008

It might sound strange but in my bedroom my desktop got a low signal while it was on the floor, when I moved it up to the printer stand the signal is now constantly "Very Good" though it's in the same place except higher., I think closer to the same level the router is in the office.
Maybe that's your problem? But if you're dad's is good anywhere then I doubt it....

Jelly Bean · #8 03-11-2008

Hi Darren are you sure you are using a wirless card connection or have you accidently setup a HOC connection wich can be very unstable.

Try resetting the wireless router,press reset button.

Zachery is partialy right,as thickness of walls,how far you are away from router can affect the signal strengh.

Also having several PCs/laptops running on wireless can drop a connection.